Automatic pick and pick loom



Feb. 1, 1949. c/P. BERGSTROM ET AL I 2,460,319

AUTOMATIC PICK AND PICK LOOM Filed NOV. 2, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVE NTO RS CARL R BERGSTROM v ARCH/BALD J. HERA/PD JR. 1 @KMW ATTORNEY 1949- c. P. BERGSTROM El AL 2,460,319

AUTOMATIC PICK AND PICK LOOM Filed Nov'. 2, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CARL F? BERGSTROM ARCH/BALD J. HERA/Q0 JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1949 AUTOMATIC PICK AND r101; LOOM Carl P. Bergstrom, Millbury, and Archibald J. Herard, Jr., Worcester, Mass., assignors to Crompton & Knowles Loom Worlm, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 2, 1946, Serial No. 707,426

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in weft replenishing pick and pick looms wherein the shuttle boxes operate on a four-pick cycle and it is the general object of the invention to provide means for storing an indication of weft exhaustion given by the weft detector in such manner that subsequent stoppage of the loom in the four pick cycle will not result in loss of the indi-' cation. 7 y

In looms of the type to which this invention more particularly relates the lay is provided with two shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof which cooperate with three shuttles picked in a three-pick sequence, each shuttle being active for one pick and then being followed by another shuttle. The shuttle boxes shift on a four-pick cycle, but the boxes at the two ends of the loom are out of step with each other by one pick, so that when one-set of boxes is shifting the other set is stationary with respect to the lay. The loom will ordinarily be provided with a center stop motion which detects for weft breakage during each forward beat of the lay and is effective to stop the loompreferably before the lay reaches front center in the event of weft breakage.

The weft detector system set forth hereinafter is preferably of the electric type and the detector circuit is controlled through a shipper mechanism operated switch which is closed during loom op-' eration When the loom is stopped, as by the fillingfork, this switch is opened and the detector is unable to complete the detector circuit through the electromagnetic loom control device, such as a solenoid. The latterwhen energized positions a controller for cooperation with an actuator lever having periodic movements in a two-pick cycle.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide means by which the controller when moved to controlling position by the detector during the early part of the four-pick cycle can be locked throughout themajor. part of the cycle and not have its setting lost if :the solenoid should become deenergized as a result of loom stoppage.

It is another object of thepresent invention to provide means by-which'somepartcf the loom moving incident to a call'for transfer will move thelock to releasing position within the four-pick cycle and permit the-controller to'return to idle or non-controlling position. As shown hereinafter this result isaccomplishedby means of the transfer latch'when'the latter is raised incident to-settingthe replenishing mechansism fora transferrlng'operation. 3

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, our in'-.

vention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of our invention is set forth,

Figs 1 is a front elevation of a loom having the invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, showing the replenishing mechanism and the shuttle boxes thereunder partly in section,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 3-3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 1," showing part of the mechanism with the transferrer latch in its normal down or idle position and with the controller in non-controlling position,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the controller moved to and held in controlling position,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5, but showing the mechanism at a'latter time in the .cycle of operations with the transferrer latch raised or set for a replenishing operation,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the electric circuit which-connects the weft detector and the controller operatingsolenoid,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevationlooking in the direction of arrow 8, Fig.1, showingthe cam which operates the actuator-lever, and

Fig. 9 sets forth a series of diagrams illustrat-v ing successive, positions which the shuttleboxes and the several "parts concerned with-the re-- plenishment of a depleted bobbin occupy during a four-pick cycle. I p

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame l0 supports a lay H which rocks back and'forth intheusual -manner,each complete back and forth' motion being considered a pick. The'lay' is provided with right "and lefttwo-sen gangs of shuttle boxes RG and LG, respectively, the

former having topand bottom shuttle receiving cells or-boxes 12 and I3, and the latter having" similar top and bottomcells or' boxes I4 and I'5.'

Gang GR is supported on a box lifter rod l6, while a, second lifter rod i1 is provided for the left gang LG. The box lifter rods are controlled by tion not shown in detail herein.

The box gangs rise or fall during shifting in tervals which occurwhilethe lay is in the for ward part of its motionyand between its bottom 'boxlifting mechanism of well-known construcand top center positions. *Eachgang of shuttle I boxes operates on a four-pick cycle, being up for two picks and then down for two picks, but the gangs shift at different times, being out of step with each other by one pick. The sequence of box shifting is set forth diagrammatically in Fig. 9 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

A weft detector D of the electric type is secured to the lay at the left side thereof for cooperation with the weft in shuttle box or cell l4 when the latter is up. The loom operates with three shuttles SI, S2 and S3 each active for one pick and then followed by another. When gang LG rises from the low position shown in Fig. lit will contain a shuttle the weft of which is brought into engagement with the detector finger of detector D. If sufficient weft for continued weaving is present in shuttle box 14 the weft detector gives no indication, but if the weft in box I4 is depleted the detector then moves from the full line to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. '7. This indication is given by a side slipping movement of detector finger 20 and the latter, after having slipped to indicating position, will remain in that position so long as gang LG is raised. Indication will start when up motion of gang LG is at or near completion as the lay in its backward movement has reached approximately top center position.

The replenishing mechanism includes a stationary magazine M having in the present instance four reserve bobbin stacks 25, 26, 21 and 28. Each stack is associated with a vertical slide, the four slides being indicated at 29, 30, 3t and 32. These vertical slides are normally down in the position shown in Fig. 2,-but can be raised one at a time by an oscillatable selector and subsequently depressed by it when the magazine is to be set for a replenishing operation. The longitudinal position of selector 35 is determined by a lever 36 the position of which is controlled by a link or the like 31. As shown in Fig. 2 the selector is in register with slide 29 of front stack 25, but the selector can move rearwardly to register with each of the slides one at a time.

A bobbin discharging cradle 38 is operatively connected to the lower end of each vertical slide. Ordinarily the cradles are empty, but when a slide is raised by the selector its cradle oscillates in one direction to receive the bobbin immediately above it, and when the slide is depressed by the selector the cradle has a reverse motion which delivers the previously received bobbin so that the latter can move to a common transfer position shown at W, Fig. 2, and await transfer by transferrer arm 40 into the shuttle in the top shuttle box l2 when gang RG is up.

The lay H is provided with a filling stop motion including a fork -43 of usual construction located centrally of the lay lengthwise thereof and operating on each forward beat of the lay to detect for presence or absence of weft. The fork cannot operate until after time has been allowed for the shuttle to pass it, and stopping mechanism not shown herein but of usual construction operates in the absence of weft to stop. the loom as the lay approaches front center, and such stopping can occur on each forward beat of the lay. If the fork stops the loom the shipper handle 44, see Fig. 7, will move from the normal running full line position thereof to the stopped dotted line position. A switch 45 is connected to the shipper handle and is normally closed when the loom is running, but when the shipper handle moves to stopping position switch 45 is opened.

The power to rock selector 35 about its axis is derived from a cam 48 which is secured to the bottom shaft 49 of the loom. This shaft and cam are on two-pick time, the cam making a complete rotation for two successive reciprocations of the lay. Cam 48 rocks a lever 50 of the usual type connected at its forward end to an upright rod 5| attached to a block 52 slidable vertically in a stationary stand or guide 53. This block is pivoted to an actuator lever 54 at 55 intermediate the ends thereof. An upstanding horn 56 on the stationary guide 53 is slotted to receive one end of lever 54.

A controller '60 for lever 54 in the form of a horizontal pin extends forwardly from the horn 56 and is slidable in stand 53. The controller can be either in rear controlling or indicating position under the actuator lever, or in forward non-controlling position, depending upon conditions which will be described hereinafter. When the controller is in controlling position as block 52 descends lever 54 lowers a rod 6| connected thereto to rock selector 35 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby raising the vertical slide of the magazine registered with the selector. If the controller is not in controlling position at this time lever 54 has an idle down motion. At a later time the actuator lever is raised by rod 5! and stationary pin 62 causes it to rock the selector in a clockwise direction to enable it to depress the previously raised vertical slide. This latter rocking of the selector occurs regularly at two-pick intervals, and lever 54 cccupies a neutral position between the rising and falling motions thereof. When a previously raised vertical slide is depressed it delivers a bobbin from the magazine and lowers a transfer latch controlling rod 64 which thereupon raises a transfer latch 65 to transfer position for engagement with a bunter 66 on gang RG.

Except for the cam 48 the mechanisms thus far described may be of common construction and operate in the usual manner.

The present invention relates more particularly to means for holding the controller 60 in controlling position whenever a replenishing operation is indicated or initiated by the weft detector, and also to means for subsequently releasing the controller. Accordingly, a solenoid I0 is secured in fixed position to the loom frame as by bolts 1! and has a core 12 connected as at 13 to the forward end of controller pin 68. This connection constitutes a pin 14,- seen for instance in Fig. 3, which projects laterally from the core'in front of a washer l5 loose on the controller pin and behind a head 16 on the pin. A light compression spring 11 pushes forwardly on the Washer 15 and acts normally to keep the controller pin from under the actuator lever 54. The core 12 may be substantially square in cross section to prevent turning thereof to maintain pin 14 horizontal, and is normally in forward position when the solenoid is deenergized, but is moved rearwardly when the solenoid is excited.

A lock lever is pivoted as at 81 to the stand or guide'53 and has 2. depending arm 82 attached to a forwardly extending tension spring 83 anchored as at 84. A second arm 85 has an upwardly projecting stop finger 86' positioned normally for engagement with the pin 14.

The transfer latch 55 is held by a latch holder 90 which rocks around the usual pivot pin 9| on the transferrer arm 45. In the present instance the holder 98 is provided with an arm 92 to which the lower slotted end of rod 64 is attached. A

release stud 93 on the latch holder is provided to engage a shelf 94 on lever 80 for a purpose to be explained- Fig. 7 shows the electric circuit for operating the solenoid when the detector D indicates weft exhaustion. A transformer T has a secondary low Voltage winding 95 which upon indication of weft exhaustion energizes thefollowing circuit: winding 95, ,wire'96; solenoid 10, wire B'Lcontact. 98 of the weft detector, detectorgarm 20, wire I00, switch 45, and wire l| back to the secondary. Detector arm 20 is suitably insulated in wellknown mannerand is normally spaced from conta-ct98. Energization of this circuit causes the solenoid to move itscore rearwardlyicr to the right as viewed in Fig. 4, so that pin 14 moves rearwardly and lock lever 80 rises from the position shown in Fig, 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 in front of pin 14 to holdthe controller pin 60 under the actuator. lever 54 independently of energization of solenoid 10. I

The lock lever 80 will remain as shown in Fig. 5 until the transferrer latch moves from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the release stud 93engages shelf 94 and lowers the lock lever sufiiciently to permit spring 11 to return the controller pinand core totheir normal forward positions. This release of the lock occurs whenever the magazine is set for a transferring operation whether or not the latter ensues. The setting for transfer may for instance be canceled by revokin mechanism not shown herein but operative if the shuttle in box I: is not properly placed to receive a reserve bobbin. f

The time relations of the several parts of the invention may be understood by reference to Fig. 9 which shows diagrammatically the positions of the shuttle box gangs, the weft detector, the controller pin 60, the actuator lever 54, the lock lever 80 and the release stud 93 for a, period of four successive picks. In this figure the diagrams are designated by Roman numerals which progressively indicate successive lay positions. Four positions are shown for each pick and the successive positions for each pick are, respectively, front, top, back and bottom centers. The picks are assumed to start at front center when one or another of the gang RG or LG is shifting either up or down.

Referring to pick one, position I, with the lay at front center, gang LG is half shifted and rising with shuttles Si and S3 in boxes l4 and I 5, respectively. It is assumed that shuttle SI is depleted of weft and is rising toward the weft detector D. At the opposite side of the loom gan RG is up with shuttle S2 in top box I2 and bottom box I3 is empty and aligned with the lay H.

The cam 48 is so designed and timed with respect to the loom that at the time of position I the actuator lever 54 is starting to move downwardly,v

the detector not yet having indicated- 7 In position II the lay has reached its first top center position of the four-pick cycle and shuttle SI is in fully raised position, Detector D indicates Weft exhaustion and causes energization of the solenoid, but at this time actuator lever 54 has moved down far enough to prevent rearward; movement, that is to the right asvviewed in position II, of the controller pin 60. Look 80 is held down by pin 14, and shuttle S3- is picked from box [5. v In position III the lay has reached back center and shuttle S3 is flight toward box l3, By

th s time cam 48 ha turned fic s t v, tore:

turn the actuator lever 54 to its neutral position above controller pin 60, and the solenoid, still being energized, causes the pin to move under the actuator and carry pin 14 rearwardly, whereupon lock lever 89 rises to hold the controller pin in indicating or controlling position.

. In position IV the lay is moving forwardly at bottom center. If there is a broken pick in the warpshed filling fork 43 will act to stop the loom and open switch 45 with resultant deenergization of the solenoid. If this should happen, however, pin will remain looked under actuator lever 54. Shuttle S3 enters box 13, and the lay moves forwardly to complete the first pick of the four-pick cycle. v

Pick two of the cycle starts with the second front center position V, gang RG descending and gang LG remaining up. By the time the second pick starts the loom will have been stopped if there has been a filling break, this stoppage being indicated by movement of the shipper handle from the full lines to dotted lines, position V, i

In position VI the; lay is again at top center, but the cam 48 is now in position to raise the actuator lever 54 and cause rocking of selector 35 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Since no vertical slide 29-32 is raised this rocking motion is idle and the slides and their cradles and also the bobbins in the magazine remain unchan ed. Shuttle s2 is picked from box I2 toward box 15.

IIn position VII the lay is again at back center and shuttle S2 is in flight. Lever 54 has returned to its neutral position. 1

In position VIII the'lay is at bottom center with the actuator lever 54 still in netural position and shuttle S2 in 'box Hi. This completes the second pick of the four-pick cycle and also completes the first two-pick cycle of actuator lever 54. Fork 43 can initiate stoppage if the weft laid by shuttle S2 is broken, but controller 54 will remain locked.

With position IX pick three starts and also the second two-pick cycle of the actuator lever 54. In this position the lay is again on front center and boxes LG are descending. Shuttle SI moves away from the detector and the solenoid circuit is opened. Box l2 at the right side of the lay is in shuttle receiving position. Lever 54 starts to move down with controller 58 still locked ver 54, but the controller pin 60 acts as a temporary pivot and causes lever 54 to lower rod 6|; thereby rocking the selector 35 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to raise thevertical slide of the magazine registered therewith, assumed to be the front selector 29 corresponding to shuttle SI In position XI the lay is on back center position and depleted shuttle SI is in flight toward box l2. By this time the actuator lever 54 has again returned to its neutral position due to actionofcam 48.

In position XII the lay is on bottom center position for the third time and shuttle SI enters box l2. This completes the third pick of the four-pick cycle. Fork 43 can again initiate stop, page if weft breakage has occurred. I

Position XIII starts pick four, and the lay is again on front center position with the gang RG eaten as s l SI i b x 2 amen ra s for position under the magazine. dwells in neutral position.

In position XIV the lay is at top center for the fourth time with gang RG fully up. Cam 48 raises lever 54, thereby rocking the selector 35 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to cause lowering of the previously raised vertical slide 29. This releases a bobbin from the front stack and it moves to transfer position W. At the same time latch 55 is lifted to transfer position by lowering of rod 84, and the release stud 93 engages the shelf 64 and moves the lock lever 80 down, thus releasing the controller pin 60 and permitting spring I! to return it to normal fora ward position.

The controller pin thus remains locked from position III to position XIV, but returns to its normal position prior to the completion of pick four. Shuttle S3 is picked from box 13 toward box M.

In position XV the lay is on back center position and shuttle S3 is in flight toward box l4, leaving box i3 empty with gang RG still up. Lever 54 has returned to neutral position.

In position XVI the lay is at bottom center moving forwardly, shuttle S3 is in box I4, and the buntcr 66 is approaching latch 85. At some time between position XVI and XVII the hunter engages the latch and rocks the transferrer arm to push the bobbin in transfer position in the magazine into shuttle Si in box i2 and expel the empty bobbin down through the empty box l3. When the parts reach the position of XVII the transfer is completed, but the latch is forward and still engaged with the hunter.

At some time between position XVII and XVIII as the lay moves from front center toward top center it pulls the hunter it away from the latch, whereupon the latter falls to the position of Fig. 4 from the position in Fig. 6 and release stud 93 rises to the position shown in Fig. 4. The magazine is thus completely reset before the next four-pick cycle starts.

As the latch moves rearwardly subsequent to transfer after position XVII the release stud 53 will approach the release shelf 94. By this time the lock pin 14 is again over arm 86 of the lock lever holding the latter down. The release stud can therefore return to the position of Fig. 6, and if desired a small incline I I2 directed downwardly and forwardly from the forward end of the shelf may be provided to insure movement of stud 93 over the shelf.

It will be understood that looms of the type described herein operate on a 12-pick cycle, this number of picks being required for the shuttles to complete their rotation. Thus, starting with position I with shuttle SI in box [4, twelve picks must elapse before shuttle SI will again be in box [4. The sequence shown in Fig. 9 relates to only four of these twelve picks, and at the beginning of the second sequence of four picks, position XVII Fig. 9, a different shuttle, namely shuttle S3, will be in box 14 and can if depleted initiate another replenishing operation.

It will be apparent that shipper handle 44 can be in stopping position and switch 45 open for any front center position of the lay, such as positions I, V, IX, or XIII. In position V box I4 is up and the solenoid circuit would therefore be reclosed upon resumption of weaving after stoppage due to a weft fault. The function of lock 80 is therefore not so important for position V. In position IX, however, the circuit is open at the detector due to descent of gang LG, and

Lever 54 lock performs the necessary function of holding the controller pin in controlling position despite deenergization of the solenoid. From position XI on to the end of the four-pick cycle the pin 60 is not used, and if stoppage at position XIII did result in loss of the indication it would not alter the operations.

In addition to the rocking movements thus far described the selector 35 is also capable of longitudinal movements so that it may register with the various vertical slides 29-32. This registry will be determinedby some form of control connected to lever 36 and may move the selector at regularly recurring intervals, or effect longitudinal movement of it for each transferring op.- eration of the loom. Furthermore, it is not necessary that the selector register with all four of the slides, since the purposes of the invention can be effectuated if it registers with a lesser number. Since the operations already described are initiated and completed within a four-pick cycle it is immaterial what system of registry of the selector with the vertical slides is used.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention set forth herein provides electric weft detector means the circuit of which is open whenever the loom is stopped, but wherein a mechanical iock independent of the solenoid operates to hold the controller pin in controlling position, provided indication of weft exhaustion has been given. Loom stoppage by the filling fork therefore does not cancel an initiated replenishing operation. The solenoid does not need the customary holding circuit which if used would be opened by the shipper handle when moving to stop the m. Furthermore, the lock is released to permit the controller pin to return to normal position whenever the transferer latch is set for a transferring operation.

Having thus described our invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what we claim is;

1. In a weft replenishing pick and pick loom operating with shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof and in which a shuttle moves to weft detecting position on one side of the loom at the beginning of a four-pick sequence and is in transfer position on the opposite .side of the loom during the last pick of the sequence, the shuttle moving away from detecting position during the third pick of the sequence, a reserve bobbin magazine at said opposite side of the loom, bobbin release means on said magazine which when reciprocated releases a reserve bobbin for transfer into the shuttle when the latter is in transfer position, actuator means for the bobbin release means operating in a two-pick cycle, a controller for the actuator normally in non-controlling position but moved to controlling position if the shuttle when in detecting position indicates weft exhaustion, said controller if in controlling position tending to move to noncontrolling position when the shuttle moves away from the detecting position thereof, a lock effective to hold the controller in controlling position upon movement thereof to controlling position, said controller when held in controlling position by said lock cooperating with the actuator means during the latter part of said four-pick sequence to effect a reciprocation of the bobbin release means to release a bobbin from the magazine, transfer means thereafter effective to move the released bobbin into the shuttle when the latter is in the transfer position thereof,' and-unlocking means operative to cause'said lock to unlock the controller during the latter part of said fourpick sequence, whereupon the controller returns to non-controllingposition.

2. In a weft replenishing pick and pick loom having shifting shuttle boxes at each side thereof and a weft detector at-one side thereof and a reserve bobbin magazine on the opposite side thereof, an exhausted shuttle when in inactive detecting position onsaid one side causing the detector to indicate weft exhaustion at the beginning of a four-pick sequence, the shuttle moving away from inactive detecting position during" the third pick of the sequence and thereafter during the sequence being incapable of causing the detector to indicate exhaustion, the shuttle then moving to an inactive transfer position on the opposite side of the loom during the last pick of the sequence, bobbin release means on the magazine which when reciprocated delivers a bobbin from the magazine to a position for transfer, actuator means for the bobbin release means operating in a two-pick cycle, a controller for the actuator means normally in non-controlling position relatively to the actuator means but tending to move to and remain in controlling position relatively to the actuator means only during the time that the shuttle is in inactive position and. cause the detector to indicate exhaustion, a lock. for the controller effective upon movement of the latter to controlling position to lock said controller in controlling position while the shuttle is in said inactive detecting po-' sition, said controller and actuator means thereafter cooperating during a single two-pick cycle of the actuator starting subsequent to movement of the shuttle away from the inactive detecting position thereof to effect a reciprocation of the release means and thereby effect movementof a reserve bobbin to a position for transfer, transfer means thereafter operative to transfer the bobbin into the shuttle whenthe latter is in the inactive transfer position thereof, and means' operative incident to operation of saidtransfer means to move said lock to unlocking position relatively to said controller, the latter thereupon returning to noncontrolling position.

3. In a weft. replenishing pickand pick loom operating with shifting shuttle boxes at each end thereof and a shuttle which is in inactive weft detecting position in the boxes on one side of the loom during the first pick of a, four-pick sequence, the shuttle moving away from detecting position during the third pick of the sequence and moving to inactive transfer position in the boxes on the opposite side of the loom during the fourth pick of said four-pick sequence, a reserve bobbin magazine on said opposite side of the loom, bobbin release means for the magazine effective when reciprocated to release a reserve bobbin from the magazine, whereupon the released bobbin moves to a position for transfer, actuator means for the release means operating in a two-pick cycle, controller means for the actuator means normally in non-controlling position but moving to controlling position relatively to the actuator means while the shuttle is in the inactive detecting position thereof, provided the shuttle indicates weft exhaustion, the controller tending to move away from controlling position when the shuttle moves away from the inactive detecting position thereof, a lock operative when the controller moves to controlling position to FIG maintain said controller in controlling position subsequent to movement of the shuttle away from the inactive detecting position thereof, said controller while locked cooperating with the actuator 5 means after the shuttle has moved away from the inactive detecting position thereof to effect a reciprocation of the bobbin release means during a single two-pick cycle of operation of the actuator means starting subsequent to movemen-t of the shuttle away from thedetecting position thereof, whereupon a reserve bobbin moves to a position for transfer, transfer means thereafter effective to transfer the bobbin into the shuttle While the latter is in the'inactive transfer position thereof, and means effective during the latter half of said'four-pick sequenceto move said lock to unlocking position, whereupon said controller returns to non-controlling position rela; tively to the actuator means.

4. In a weft replenishing pick'and pick loom operating with shuttle boxes at each end thereof and having a weft detector on one side thereof and a reserve bobbin magazine on the opposite side thereof, the loom having a shuttle which moves to inactive weft detecting position in the boxes on said one side of the loom to be detected by said weft detector at the beginning of a fourpick sequence and then moves away from detecting position during the ,third pick of the se- 30 quence, the shuttle thereafter being in inactive transfer position in the boxes on said opposite side of the loom during theiourth pick of said sequence, bobbin release means for the magazine effective upon a reciprocationthereof to de- 35 liver from the magazine a bobbin which moves to a position-for transfer, an actuator forjthe release means operating in .a two-pick cycle, a controller for the actuator normally in non-controlling position, the detector causing the controller totend to moveto controlling position with respect to the actuator only while. the shuttle is in the inactive detecting: position thereof, provided "the shuttle is depleted of Weftfloclc means effective upon movement of the controller to controlling position to hold said controllerin the controlling position thereof, said controller and actuator thereafter cooperating. during a single two-pick cycle of operations ofthe actuatori'beginning subsequent to movement of the shuttle away from detecting position thereof to effect a reciprocation of the bobbin release means, transfer means having a latch movable from normal to transfer position during the latter part of said four pick sequence, provided the release means has a reciprocation, and means operated by the latch when the latter moves to transfer position to move the lock to unlocking position relatively to the controller, whereupon the controller returns to non-controlling position.

5. In a weft replenishing pick and pick loom operating with a shifting gang of shuttle boxes at each side thereof and having an electric weft detector adjacent to the gang at one side to detect weft in an inactive shuttle box in the latter gang, the loom having a reserve bobbin magazine at the opposite side adjacent to the other gang, the loom operating with a shuttle which is moved to inactive detecting position in said inactive shuttle box by said one gang at the beginning of a four-pick sequence and is moved to an inactive transfer position at the opposite Side of the loom by said other gang during the fourth pick of said sequence, said gang adjacent said one side moving the shuttle away from detecting position during the second half of said sequence, bobbin release means for the magazine-effective when reciprocated to release a bobbin from the magazine, whereupon the released bobbin moves to a position for transfer, an actuator operating in successive two-pick cycles one cycle of which starts after the shuttle has moved away from the detecting position thereof, a controller for the actuator normally in non-controlling position, a solenoid which when energized effects movement of the controller to controlling position with respect to the actuator means, electric means efiective when the detector indicates weft exhaustion at the beginning of said four-pick sequence to energize the solenoid, said electric means being ineffective to energize the solenoid when the shuttle moves away from the detecting position thereof, a lock effective upon movement of the controller by the solenoid to controlling position to hold said controller in said controlling position, said controller while thus locked cooperating with the actuator during said one cycle to cause a reciprocation of the bobbin release means, transfer means thereafter effective to transfer the released bobbin into the shuttle while the latter is in the transfer position thereof, means operative incident to transfer of the bobbin into the shuttle to move said lock to unlocking position, and means thereupon effective-to return the controller to non-controlling position.

6. In a weft replenishing pick and pick loom operating with a gang of shifting shuttle boxes at veach side thereof and having aweft detector on one side thereof to detect an exhausted shuttle in inactive detecting position in one of said gangs and having a reserve bobbin magazine at the other side thereof for replenishment of the shuttle when the latter is in inactive transfer position in the other gang at said opposite side of the loom, the shuttle being moved to detecting position by said one gang at the beginning of a four-pick sequence and away from detecting position during the third pick of the sequence, the shuttle being placed in transfer position by the other gang during the fourth pick of said fourpick sequence, the detector being capable of indicating weft exhaustion during the first two picks only of said four-pick sequence, bobbin release means for the magazine effective when reciprocated to release a reserve bobbin from the magazine, the bobbin thereupon moving to a position for transfer, actuator means for the bobbin release means operating in a two-pick cycle and having two cycles of operation during said fourpick sequence, a controller for the actuator normally in non-controlling position but moved to controlling position during the first of said two cycles if exhaustion is indicated by the weft detector, lock means holding the controller in controlling position subsequent to the time during which the detector can give indication of w t exhaustion, said actuator means and controll r cooperating when the latter is locked in contro ling position during the second of said two-pic cycles to effect a reciprocation of said bobbin release means, transfer mechanism thereafter effective to move the bobbin in position for transfer into the shuttle while the latter-is in transfer position, and means operative incident to transfer of the bobbin to move said lock to unlocked position relative to the controller.

7. In a weft replenishing loom having a weft detector on one side thereof and having a weft replenishing means on the opposite side thereof and in which a shuttle moves todetecting position relatively to the detector at the beginning of a sequence of four successive picks of the loom and is in replenishing position relatively to the weft replenishing means during the last pick of the sequence, a controller normally in non-controlling position but movable to controlling position during the first pick of the sequence, provided the shuttle causes the detector to indicate weft exhaustion, the weft replenishing mechanism effective within a two-pick cycle occurring during the latter part of said sequence to effect replenishment of th'e shuttle, provided the controller is in controlling position, said detector being incapable of giving indication of weft exhaustion during that part of said sequence immediately following the beginning of said two-pick cycle, means operative while the detector is indicating weft exhaustion to move the controller to controlling position, a lock effective while the detector is indicating weft exhaustion to lock the controller in controlling position, and means effective during the latter part of said sequence to move the lock to unlocked position and enable the controller to return to non-controlling position.

CARL P. BERGSTROM. ARCHIBALD J. HERARD, JR.

No references cited. 

